Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore

Ingredients (serves 6)

3 tbsp olive oil

6 chicken drumsticks, trimmed of excess fat, skin on

6 chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat, skin on

1 large onion, chopped

2 celery sticks, chopped

2 carrots, peeled, chopped

150g sliced pancetta, chopped

3 garlic cloves, crushed

125g button mushrooms, sliced

100ml dry white wine

800g can diced tomatoes

1/2 tsp brown sugar

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

1 bay leaf

150ml chicken stock

1 cup pitted Kalamata olives

Chopped flat-leaf parsley, to garnish

Method

Heat the oil in a large casserole dish over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until browned all over. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Add the onion, celery, carrot and pancetta to the pan and cook over low heat for 5 minutes until the onion softens. Add the garlic and mushrooms and cook for a further minute.

Return chicken pieces to the pan, add the wine and allow simmering 1-2 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, herbs and stock. Bring to the boil, and then reduce heat to low and cook, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the olives and cook for a further 10 minutes.

Transfer chicken to a platter, then reduce the sauce over high heat for 5-6 minutes. Serve garnished with the parsley.